Wheel Holder For A Bicycle Carrier

ABSTRACT

A wheel holder for a bicycle carrier for a vehicle includes at least one body and at least one fastening member. The wheel holder is configured to receive and retain a wheel having a tread. The at least one body provides a first wheel receiving surface and a second wheel receiving surface. The first and second wheel receiving surfaces are separated by a distance in a first plane. The first plane is aligned with a rotation plane of the wheel of the bicycle after the wheel has been mounted to the wheel holder. A void is formed between the first and second wheel receiving surfaces. The void is configured to receive a portion of the wheel of the bicycle such that the first and second wheel receiving surfaces provide a first support point and a second support point on the tread of the wheel separated by the void.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/315,288, filed Nov. 30, 2016, which is a National Stage applicationof PCT/EP2015/058634, filed Apr. 22, 2015, which claims priority to EPApplication No. 14171267.9, filed Jun. 5, 2014, the disclosures of whichare hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wheel holder for a bicycle carrierand a bicycle carrier having at least one wheel holder. The wheel holderis configured to provide a rigid and stable connection with the wheel.

BACKGROUND

Bicycle carriers, sometimes referred to as bicycle racks, are used totransport bicycles on vehicles. When transporting bicycles on vehiclesmanufacturers have constantly struggled with the problem of readilyattaching the bicycle to the bicycle carrier to prevent accidents. TheUS patent application no. US 2007/0164065 A1 disclose a bicycle holderfor a bicycle rack. The bicycle holder comprises two engagement membersadapted to engage in two tracks. The engagement members embrace thebicycle rack and are said to be configured to be slideably engaged withthe tracks. A securing portion in the form of a strap is used to securethe wheel of the to the bicycle holder.

The German patent application DE 10 2005 058 861 A1, Volkswagen AG,disclose a bicycle wheel holder comprising a plate and a lever. Thewheel is pinched between the plate and the lever. It has now been foundthat wheel holders for bicycle carriers can be improved.

The wheel holder describes above suffers from the drawbacks. None of theabove mentioned publications provides for a wheel holder which impartsstability to the wheel while being retained to the wheel holder. Thewheels may be destabilized by air turbulence for example as the vehiclemoves, such air turbulence may cause wheel to wobble for example. If awheel wobbles, there will be a disturbing sound and vibrations in thevehicle. In the long run it may also increase the risk for fatiguebreakdown of the material in the wheel holder or in other parts of thebicycle carrier. An attempt to address this problem has been to havewheel holder having cradles which support the wheel sides. Theseattempts have not been very successful.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide for an improvedwheel holder for a bicycle carrier which removes or at least reduces thedrawbacks described above. The objects are at least partly met by awheel holder for a bicycle carrier for a vehicle. The wheel holder isconfigured to receive and retain a wheel having a tread and comprises atleast one body providing a first and a second wheel receiving surface.The first and the second wheel receiving surfaces are separated adistance in a first plane, the first plane is aligned with a rotationplane of the wheel of the bicycle after the wheel has been mounted tothe wheel holder. At least one fastening member is adapted to retain thewheel of the bicycle to the first and the second wheel receivingsurfaces of the body.

A void is formed between the first and second wheel receiving surfaces,the void is adapted to receive a portion of the wheel of the bicycle sothat the first and second wheel receiving surfaces provide two distinctsupport points to the tread of the wheel separated by the void when thefastening member retains the wheel of the bicycle to the body of thewheel holder.

The wheel holder provides for a compact wheel holder which also providesfor stability to the wheel. A compact wheel holder has the benefits ofproviding low wind resistance especially when a bicycle is not mountedthereto. The wheel holder has two distinct support points for supportingthe outer wheel circumference, i.e. the tread of the wheel. The firstand the second wheel receiving surfaces provide the wheel with first anda second distinct support points which are separated at least withrespect to the length of the wheel holder.

The distinct support points can be separate support points. In such ascase, the void can be a support point free zone. In some cases however,the tread of the wheel may rest gently on the underlying surface. Insuch cases, the main support to the wheel is imparted at the separatedsupport points. In general terms, the first and second wheel receivingsurfaces provide two separated main support points to the tread of thewheel when the fastening member retains the wheel of the bicycle to thebody of the wheel holder. In both the above mentioned cases, the supportpoints are distinct as they carry a high majority of the weight andforce imparted to the wheel holder. The support points substantiallycarry the weight of the wheel and the bicycle.

The wheel holder provides stability and reduces wobbling particularlyduring transport. It can also reduce wear on the rim, the frame, thewheel holder itself, and thus also the bike carrier as a whole. Itreduces risk that something breaks due to material fatigue, which couldbe disastrous should a bicycle or wheel accidentally fall off a bicyclecarrier.

The void can be at least partly formed by the at least one body of thewheel holder, preferably by an aperture formed in one body or by a voidformed between two separate bodies. If there are two separate bodiesproviding the first and the second wheel receiving surfaces, each bodyhas a wheel receiving surface. The enable two distinct support points, acombination of raised ridges and an aperture is advantageous as such awheel holder has been found to be easy to manufacture and require lessmaterial.

The wheel can be retained to the wheel holder in different manners. Oneadvantageous configuration is if the at least one fastening member isadapted to extend substantially between the first and the second supportpoints. In such case the fastening member can extend across the rim ofthe wheel diagonal with respect to the rotation plane of the wheel andthe first plane. It is believed that this may assist in retaining thewheel in a preferred direction. It may also assist the positioning ofthe wheel holder with respect to a load carrier foot of a load carryingbar, or roof rack, when a bicycle carrier comprising at least one wheelholder is mounted to such load carrying bar. The fastening member can betightened in different manners to the wheel holder using a fasteningmechanism or simply by hooking it onto a portion of the wheel holder.The fastening member may be formed by a strap which can be elastic orsubstantially non elastic.

At least one of the first and second wheel receiving surfaces can bedisplaceably arranged to the body so that the distance between the firstand second wheel receiving surfaces can be changed. If the first and/orthe second wheel receiving surfaces are formed by ridges for example,the first and/or the second ridges can be slideably arranged on the bodyof the wheel holder to enable the displacement.

It has been found that a simple and sturdy construction is achieved isthe body and the first and the second wheel receiving surfaces areintegrally formed in one piece of material. One way of forming the bodyand the first and the second wheel receiving surfaces in one piece ofmaterial is by molding the wheel holder using plastic material.

The first and second wheel receiving surfaces can be formed by a firstand a second ridge portion. The first and/or the second ridge portioncan comprise at least one an arc shaped ridge extending along the firstplane. The wheel holder may thus comprise at least two separated arcshaped ridges separated in the first plane. The at least two separatedarc shaped ridges separated in the first plane are preferably alignedwith each other. The wheel holder preferably comprises at least two pairof aligned arc shaped ridges. The arc shaped ridges can preferably beseparated a distance perpendicular to the first plane so that the wheelis not pinched between the two arc shaped ridges, but rather rests uponthe arc shaped ridges.

The at least two pair of arc shaped ridges has two opposing sides facingtowards each other and two opposing sides facing away from each other.The two opposing sides facing towards each other are substantiallyvertical and/or the two opposing sides facing away from each other aresubstantially angled with respect to a vertical axis. Having angledsides facing away from each other provides for rigid arc shaped ridges,or rigid ridges if the ridges have any other form. The rigidity of theridges is advantageous if the wheel of the bicycle is being impartedwith a force to turn e.g. via the wind resistance during transportationof the bicycle. It may also have the advantage that the raised portionshave a tendency to cut into the wheel, rather than having the wheelflattened out onto the raised ridges.

The ridge portions may be hollow to save material in the manufacturingprocess.

The first and/or the second ridge portion can comprise at least two arcshaped ridges having different height, preferably different maximumheight. Ridges of different heights enable wheel of different thickness,or different sizes to be safely secured to the wheel holder. The wheelholder can thus be configured to be compatible with wheels having athickness of up to 30 cm, preferably from 1-10 cm. The height differencebetween two ridges, preferably arc shaped ridges, can be from 0.3-3.0cm, preferably from 0.5-1.5 cm.

The wheel holder is preferably configured so that it can slide along thelength of the bicycle carrier when mounted thereto. If the wheel holderin not positioned underneath the wheel of the bicycle directly, thewheel holder can be configured to be slip along the length of thebicycle carrier underneath the wheel. Such maneuver is simplified byhaving the wheel receiving surfaces formed by arc shaped ridges. The arcshaped ridges thus operates as wedges when slid underneath the wheel.

The distance between the arc shaped ridges in the first plane, ispreferably selected to be such that when a wheel of the intended sizerests on the arc shaped ridges, it is substantially only the facingsides of the opposing arc shaped ridges, with respect to the firstplane, which provide to distinct support points to the wheel.

The height of at least one arc shaped ridge can be adjusted. This mayenable more support points to the wheel. The wheel receiving surface canbe formed by ridges for example, such ridge can be hinged in verticaltracks and be height adjusted by moving a wedge horizontally whichpushes the ridge up and down in the track.

At least one of the first and the second ridge portions comprises tworidges. The two ridges are interspaced in a direction perpendicular tothe first plane. Preferably a distance from the first plane of the wheelholder, the distance is preferably from 0.5-4.0 cm. Each of the firstand the second ridge portions may comprise comprises two or more ridges,such as four ridges as described below. When having four ridges, theouter pair of ridges is preferably twice the distance from the firstplane as the inner pair of ridges.

The wheel has a rim with a hub and a tire. The hub and a first portionof the tire, preferably the tread of the tire, are positioned on eitherside of a line drawn between the first and second wheel receivingsurfaces. The first and second wheel receiving surfaces can be made moreor less prominent as support points by adjusting the height of the firstand second wheel receiving surfaces. If the tread of the tire ispositioned on 1-40 cm from the line drawn between the first and secondwheel receiving surfaces, the first and second wheel receiving surfacesare providing for good support points to the wheel.

The first portion of the tire comprises a point on the tire whichintersects with a vertical axis, the vertical axis extends through thehub of the wheel. The point on the tire is preferably the lowest pointon the tire.

The first and the second wheel receiving surfaces can be arranged to thebody so that they have substantially the same height. For example, ifthe first and the second wheel receiving surfaces each has an apex, theycan be arranged so that if a line is drawn between the apex of the firstwheel receiving surface and the apex of the second wheel receivingsurface, the line is substantially horizontal.

The distance between the first and the second wheel receiving surfacescan be selected to be from 5-30 cm, preferably 10-20 cm. This applies ofcourse also if the wheel receiving surface is a ridge portion or an arcshaped ridge, or if the first and the second wheel receiving surfaceshas any other form.

If the first and the second wheel receiving surfaces are formed by arcshaped ridges, such arc shaped ridges preferably has a radius arc havinga radii from 10-50 mm, preferably from 15-40 mm. The angle between thetwo radii defining the arc length of the radius arc shaped ridges can befrom 40-120 degrees for example.

According to a second aspect, the wheel holder is for a bicycle carrierfor a vehicle is configured to receive and retain a wheel having a rim.The wheel holder comprises at least one body. A first plane aligned witha rotation plane of the wheel of the bicycle after the wheel has beenmounted to the wheel holder. At least one fastening member is adapted toretain the wheel of the bicycle to the first and the second wheelreceiving surfaces of the body. The fastening member has a releasedposition in which the wheel can be positioned in the wheel holder and asecured position in which the wheel holder is retaining the wheel.

The at least one fastening member is adapted to extend in a diagonaldirection across the first plane and the rim of the wheel when beingpositioned in the secured position.

By having the fastening member extending in a diagonal direction acrossthe rim of the wheel holder and the first plane of the wheel holder, thewheel can efficiently be secured to the wheel holder. The diagonalfastening member, e.g. a diagonal strap, further imparts the wheel witha force acting to turn the wheel. It is believed without being bound bytheory that the force acting to turn the wheel improves the retainingproperties of the wheel holder as the wheel will be “pinched” by thewheel holder.

The wheel holder has a first and a second side, each side having a firstand a second end. The fastening member may extend substantially from thefirst end of the first side to substantially the second end of thesecond side. The first and second sides are preferably longitudinalsides. In this manner, the full length of the wheel holder can be used.This will also provide the fastening member with a low angle withrespect to the first plane of the wheel holder.

The wheel holder may be formed by a single body. The first and thesecond sides can thus be arranged on the one single body. In cases werethe body of the wheel holder is formed by two individual and separatebodies, the first side of one body is the opposing to the second side ofthe second body, with respect to the first plane of the wheel.

The body of the wheel holder may have at least one, preferably a firstand a second protruding support portion. The at least one or the firstand the second protruding support portions are adapted to counteract aforce acting to impart a turning motion of the wheel due to thefastening member when the wheel is retained to the wheel holder. Thewheel holder improves its “pinching” properties.

The first protruding support portion may be arranged opposite of thefirst end of the first side, and the second protruding support portionmay be arranged opposite of the second end of the second side.

The fastening member may be provided with a protective cover. Theprotective cover may be adapted to extend across the rim of the wheelwhen the wheel is retained to the wheel holder. The protective cover isarranged to provide a more lenient surface towards the rim of the wheel.

The fastening member may be at least partly formed by thermoplasticmaterial such as polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS),polyurethane, or combinations thereof. Preferably the fastening memberand/or the body is at least partly formed by thermoplastic polyurethanesuch as poly(adipate)ester based thermoplastic polyurethane, such asISOTHANE 1055D. The fastening member can be injection molded, blowmolded or extruded.

The present invention also relates to a bicycle carrier comprising atleast at least one wheel holder, or two or more wheel holders, disclosedherein. The at least one wheel holder can be slideably arranged to thebicycle carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described ingreater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 shows a bicycle carrier comprising two wheel holders and abicycle mounted thereto;

FIG. 2 shows a wheel holder and a portion of the bar of the bicyclecarrier in greater detail;

FIG. 3 shows the wheel holder of FIG. 2 in greater detail with a view inperspective;

FIG. 4 shows the wheel holder of FIG. 3 as seen from above;

FIG. 5 shows the wheel holder of FIG. 3 as seen from the side,corresponding with a view along the bar of the bicycle carrier;

FIG. 6 shows an illustration of the function of the wheel holder;

FIGS. 7a-7b show alternative forms of the wheel receiving surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a bicycle carrier 1 for transporting a bicycle 2 on avehicle (not shown) such as a car. The bicycle 2, which is onlyschematically illustrated, has a first and a second wheel 3, 4, which inFIG. 1 rest on the bicycle carrier 1, so that the bicycle 2 ispositioned in a transport position after being retained to the bicyclecarrier 1. In the transport position, the bicycle 2 can be transportedon the bicycle carrier 1 using the vehicle. Each wheel comprises a rim 8with a hub 7 and a tire 9. The bicycle carrier has a wheel holder 10,adapted to hold and retain the wheel. It should be noted that thebicycle carrier 1 can have one or more of the wheel holder 10 describedherein. The bicycle carrier could also be provided with a support armadapted to hold the bicycle to the bicycle carrier 1. Such support armscan be provided with a clamping jaw adapted be attached to the frame ofthe bicycle for example.

A wheel holder will be described in greater detail below. Although onlyone wheel holder is described in greater detail, it should be noted thatthe bicycle carrier can be provided with one or more wheel holdersdescribed herein.

The wheel 3 of the bicycle is retained to the wheel holder 10 using afastening member 15, in this case formed by a strap 16 and a strap lock17. The bicycle carrier comprises a bar 18 to which the wheel holder 10is slideably attached to enable adjustment to bicycle of differentsizes. In FIG. 1, the wheel holder 10 can be referred to as a frontwheel holder, and a second wheel holder 11 can be referred to as a rearwheel holder. This enables bicycles of different sizes to betransported. As mentioned one or more additional support arms (notshown) can be used to further attach the bicycle 2 to the bicyclecarrier 1.

For the purpose of orientation, the length of the bicycle carrierextends along the X axis, the height along the Y axis and a width alongthe Z axis, as shown in FIG. 1. Likewise, the length of the wheel holderextends along the X axis, the height along the Y axis and the widthalong the Z axis, as shown in FIG. 1. Each wheel has a rotation planeRP, parallel with the Y-X plane, in which the wheel would rotate aboutits rotation axis.

The bar 18 of the bicycle carrier 1 is, in the shown embodiment,manufactured from extruded aluminum having a substantially U-shapedcross section, or V-shaped cross section, adapted to receive parts thewheels 3, 4 of the bicycle 2. The substantially U-shaped cross sectionis formed by a groove which also is adapted to cooperate with the wheelholder 10 to partly retain the wheel holder 10 to the bicycle carrier 1and to permit the wheel holder 10 to slide along the length of thebicycle carrier 1, i.e. along the X axis. The wheel holder 10 can bedisplaced, in this case slide, along the length of the bicycle carrier 1and more precisely the bar 18 of the bicycle carrier 1, and thus bepositioned substantially at an infinite number of different positions.In comparison, bicycle carriers having predetermined positions for wheelholders only permits a limited number of positions for the wheelholders, and thus also a limited number of different sizes of bicycleswhich can be transported.

FIG. 2 shows the wheel holder 10 and the bar 18 of the bicycle carrier 1in greater detail. The wheel holder 10 comprises a body 20 formed by athermoplastic material such as polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadienestyrene (ABS), polyurethane, or the like. The wheel holder 10 is adaptedto be positioned on the bar 18 of the bicycle carrier 1 and hence theshape and the form of the bar facing side of the wheel holdercorresponds to the shape and form of the bar 18 of the bicycle carrier 1so that the wheel holder 10 can mate with the bar 18.

The wheel holder 10 comprises a first and a second wheel receivingsurface 21, 22. Each of the wheel receiving surfaces 21, 22 is formed bya plurality of raised ridges 24 extending along the length of the wheelholder 10, i.e. the X axis. A void 23 is formed between the first andthe second wheel receiving surface 21, 22, and is adapted to receive aportion of the wheel (not shown). The first and the second wheelreceiving surfaces 21, 22 are formed in one unitary piece of materialwith the body 20 but could be formed by separate components. In FIG. 2,each wheel receiving surface 21, 22 comprises two pairs of parallelraised ridges 24′, 24″. Each pair is intended to cooperate with a wheelhaving a predetermined size and width, enabling the wheel holder 10 tobe compatible with wheels of different sizes. The wheel holder 10 isintended to receive the wheel along a first plane P1, which isequivalent with the rotation plane of the wheel.

The void 23 separates the first and the second wheel receiving surfaces21, 22, in this case the ridges 24 of the first and the second wheelreceiving surfaces 21, 22. The void 23 receives a portion of the wheelwhen the wheel is retained to the wheel holder 10. As a portion of thewheel is received in the void 23, the first and the second wheelreceiving surfaces 21, 22 will form separated support points 25, 25′ forthe wheel with respect to the first plane P1 and the void 23. Thepurpose and function of this will be described in greater detail below.The ridges 24 have an arc shaped form, or a convex form, which areparallel with respect to each other and with respect to the first planeP1 and thus the rotation plane of the wheel after the wheel has beenmounted to the wheel holder 10.

As mentioned, the fastening member 15, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, isarranged to the body 20 and adapted to extend cross the rim of the wheelto retain the wheel to the wheel holder 10. As is noticeable in FIGS. 2,3, and 6, the at least one an arc shaped ridge 24 is substantiallysymmetrically arc shaped but could be partly arc shaped if desirable.

FIG. 3 shows the wheel holder 10 in greater detail. The body 20comprises a first and a second aperture 51, 52. The apertures 51, 52 canbe used to attach the fastening member 15 (not shown in FIG. 3) to thebody 20 of the wheel holder 10 in two different positions dependent ifthe present wheel holder 10 is a front or a rear wheel holder. It shouldbe noted that the fastening member can be attached to the wheel holderin any other suitable manner.

The shape and form of the first and the second wheel receiving surface21, 22 may vary. The important aspect is however that the first and thesecond wheel receiving surfaces 21, 22 provide the wheel with twodistinct support points 25, 25′ when the wheel has been retained to thewheel holder. The distinct support points may be separated as shown inFIG. 3, or be main support points, i.e. receiving a high majority of theload imparted by the wheel. The two support points should be separatedby a void which permits a portion of the wheel to be received therein.The force imparted by the fastening member acting on the portion of thewheel which has been received in the void of the wheel member, should besignificantly less than the force imparted by the fastening memberacting at the support points, i.e. at the first and the second wheelreceiving surfaces. Preferably, the wheel, or more precisely the tire ofthe wheel, is not imparted with any force component at all at theportion which has been received in the void of the wheel holder.

FIG. 4 shows the wheel holder 10 of FIG. 3 from above. The first planeP1, equivalent with the rotation plane of the wheel when mounted to thewheel holder 10, is indicated in FIG. 4 with dashed lines. The first andthe second wheel receiving surfaces 21, 22 will provide the wheel withfirst and a second support point 25, 25′ onto which the wheel is pressedas the fastening member (not shown) is tightened. As the void 23 isarranged between the support points 25, 25′, and thus separates thesupport points 25, 25′, the wheel will be held towards the wheel holder10 in a very tight and stable manner. The void 23 is partly formed, ordefined, by the first and the second wheel receiving surfaces 21, 22,which are formed by the plurality of raised ridges 24. The plurality ofraised ridges 24 extends along the length of the wheel holder 10, i.e.along the first plane P1. Hence, the first and the second wheelreceiving surfaces 21, 22 provide the wheel with first and a secondsupport point 25, 25′ which are separated at least with respect to thelength of the wheel holder 10. The void 23 is also partly formed by anaperture 30 between the first and the second wheel receiving surfaces21, 22. The aperture 30 intersects with the first plane P1 of the wheelholder 10 and provides additional space for the tire 9 when the wheel 3has been mounted to the wheel holder 10. It should be noted that insteadof having an aperture, a recess can provide additional space for thetire 9 when the wheel 3 has been mounted to the wheel holder 10. Ingeneral terms, the void 23 can be formed by raised portions of the body,such as raised ridges 24 and/or by an aperture or recess in the body 20.Further shown in FIG. 4 are the apertures 51, 52 which can be used toattach a fastening member to the body 20 of the wheel holder 10.

The aperture 30 of the body has a length LA and a width WA. The lengthLA can be from 4-25 cm, preferably 5-15 cm. The width WA can be from2-12 cm, preferably 3-8 cm.

FIG. 5 shows the wheel holder 10 from with a view along the first planeP1. FIG. 5 shows the body 20. FIG. 5 shows the ridges 24 of the secondwheel receiving surface 22. As is noticed, the body 20 of the wheelholder 10 comprises a first and a second side 27, 28, in this case aleft and a right side when view as shown in FIG. 5. The second side 28,i.e. the right side, has a protruding wall section 29 which protrudespast the level of the highest ridge 24 along the height of the wheelholder. The protruding wall section can be adapted to provide rigidityto the wheel if desirable but it is not necessary. It further providesthe fastening member with a strong connection provided material for theapertures 51, 52 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) which can be used to attach afastening member to the body 20 of the wheel holder 10. The two pairs ofparallel raised ridges 24′, 24″ has different height and beingpositioned a distance from the center of the wheel holder 10. Each pairis intended to cooperate with a wheel having a predetermined size andwidth, enabling the wheel holder 10 to be compatible with wheels ofdifferent sizes.

The ridges 24 are separated a distance from the first plane P1 asindicated in FIG. 5. The distance to the first plane P1, and thusbetween the ridges themselves, may vary dependent on which size of thewheel the wheel holder in intended to be used with. A suitable distanceto the first plane P1 is from 0.5-4.0 cm. When viewed as shown in FIG.5, the first plane P1 extends in the center of the lowest part of theU-formed wheel holder. The inner pair of ridges 24 may be positioned adistance of 0.5 cm from the first plane P1 while the outer pair ispositioned a distance of 1.0 cm from the first plane P1. The distance ismeasured as shown in FIG. 5, i.e. from the apex of the ridge and to thecenter of where the rotation plane RP will be positioned. Each of thefirst and the second ridge portions may comprise comprises two or moreridges, such as four ridges as shown in FIGS. 2-5. When having fourridges, the outer pair of ridges is preferably twice the distance fromthe first plane as the inner pair of ridges.

As is further noticeable, the pair of arc shaped ridges 24′, 24″ has twoopposing sides S1 facing towards each other and two opposing sides S2facing away from each other. The two opposing sides S1 facing towardseach other are substantially vertical in FIG. 5 substantially parallelwith the first plane P1, while the two opposing sides S2 facing awayfrom each other are substantially angled with respect to a vertical axisin FIG. 5 parallel with the first plane P1. The angle between the twosides S1, S2 of the arc shaped ridges 24′, 24″ are when viewed asillustrated in FIG. 5 from 15-80 degrees.

FIG. 6 illustrates the function of the wheel holder 10. FIG. 6 shows theportions of the wheel holder 10 and the wheel 3. The ridges 24 providewith two separated support points 25, 25′, separated by the void 23. Thesupport points 25, 25′ are the points at which the wheel holder isimparting the wheel with the main force to retain the wheel to the wheelholder along the Y axis. The support points 25, 25′ mainly contacts thetire 9 on the tread of the tire 9 but preferably slightly offset to thecenter of the tread of the tire 9. It is possible that a wheel holdermay have side portions which are intended to stabilize the wheel indirection of the Z axis. One or more support arms (not shown) may beused for this purpose additionally or optionally. A dashed line L1 isdrawn in FIG. 6 between the apexes of the ridges 24. The dashed line L1is referred to as an imaginary line between the ridges 24, or betweenthe apexes of the ridges 24, i.e. between the first and the second wheelreceiving surfaces 21, 22. As is noticeable, a portion of the tire 9,and especially the periphery of the tire 9 is arranged between theridges 24 and on opposite side of the dashed line L1 with respect to thehub 7 of the wheel 3. Further noticeable in FIG. 6 is that the peripheryof the tire 9 is not contacting the bottom in the void 23. The bottom ofthe void 23 can be formed by the bar 18 (not shown) of the bicyclecarrier 1 or by a portion of the body 20 itself. The surface beneath thevoid 23 could be a portion of the body 20 and/or the bar 18 of thebicycle carrier 1. When referring to the wheel holder 10 shown in FIG.6, the surface beneath the void 23 is the bar 18, as the wheel holder 10has an aperture between the first and the second wheel receivingsurfaces 21, 22.

The wheel holder 10 is positioned in FIG. 6 so a first portion of thetire 9 has a point Pt on the tire 9 which intersect with a verticalaxis, in FIG. 6 denoted Va, the vertical axis Va extends through the hub7 of said wheel 3. The vertical axis Va is parallel with the Y axis. Thepoint Pt is the lowest point on the tire 9 when positioned as shown inFIG. 6. In a general aspect, the first and the second wheel receivingsurfaces 21, 22 and the void 23, is positioned so that the lowest pointof the tire 9 of the wheel is positioned in the void 23 of the wheelholder 10.

The first and the second wheel receiving surfaces can be arranged to thebody so that they have substantially the same height as can be seen inFIG. 6 for example. In FIG. 6, the first and the second wheel receivingsurfaces 21, 22 each has an apex and are arranged so that the line drawnbetween the apex of the first wheel receiving surface 21 and the apex ofthe second wheel receiving surface 22 is substantially horizontal. Thisprovides for an even force distribution between the first and the secondwheel receiving surfaces 21, 22 which is advantageous.

FIGS. 7a-7b show alternative shapes and forms of the wheel receivingsurfaces 21, 22 of the wheel holder 10. Only portions of the wheel 3have been illustrated. As is noticeable, the wheel receiving surfacescan have different shapes and forms, as long as they provide for a firstand a second distinct support point 25, 25′. In FIG. 7a the wheelreceiving surfaces have a circular form and in FIG. 7 b, the wheelreceiving surfaces have a triangular form. Combinations of the shapesand forms described above, including the arc shaped form, are of coursepossible.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wheel holder for a bicycle carrier for avehicle, the wheel holder configured to receive and retain a wheelhaving a tread, the wheel holder comprising: at least one body providinga first wheel receiving surface and a second wheel receiving surface,the first and second wheel receiving surfaces being separated a distancein a first plane, the first plane being aligned with a rotation plane ofthe wheel of the bicycle after the wheel has been mounted to the wheelholder; and at least one fastening member configured to retain the wheelof the bicycle to the first and second wheel receiving surfaces of thebody, wherein a void is formed between the first and second wheelreceiving surfaces, and configured to receive a portion of the wheel ofthe bicycle such that the first and second wheel receiving surfacesprovide a first support point and a second support point on the tread ofthe wheel separated by the void when the fastening member retains thewheel of the bicycle to the body of the wheel holder.
 2. The wheelholder according to claim 1, wherein the void is at least partly formedby an aperture or recess in one body.
 3. The wheel holder according toclaim 1, wherein the void is at least partly formed by a void formedbetween two separate bodies.
 4. The wheel holder according to claim 1,wherein the first and second receiving surfaces are each raised withrespect to the at least one body.
 5. The wheel holder according to claim1, wherein the at least one fastening member is configured to extendbetween the first and second support points.
 6. The wheel holderaccording to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second wheelreceiving surfaces is displaceably arranged to the at least one bodysuch that the distance between the first and second wheel receivingsurfaces can be changed.
 7. The wheel holder according to claim 1,wherein the at least one body is a single body, and the first and secondwheel receiving surfaces are integrally formed in one piece of materialwith the single body.
 8. The bicycle carrier according to claim 1,wherein the first and second wheel receiving surfaces are formed by afirst ridge portion and a second ridge portion.
 9. The bicycle carrieraccording to claim 8, wherein the first ridge portion or the secondridge portion comprises at least one arc shaped ridge extending alongthe first plane.
 10. The bicycle carrier according to claim 9, whereinthe at least one arc shaped ridge is partly arc shaped or symmetricallyarc shaped.
 11. The wheel holder according to claim 8, wherein the firstridge portion or the second ridge portion comprises at least two arcshaped ridges having different heights.
 12. The wheel holder accordingto claim 11, wherein the at least two arc shaped ridges have twoopposing sides facing towards each other and two opposing sides facingaway from each other, and the two opposing sides facing towards eachother are vertical or the two opposing sides facing away from each otherare angled with respect to a vertical axis.
 13. The wheel holderaccording to claim 9, wherein a height of at least one arc shaped ridgecan be adjusted.
 14. The wheel holder according to claim 8, wherein thefirst ridge portion or the second ridge portion comprises two ridges,and the two ridges are interspaced in a direction perpendicular to thefirst plane.
 15. The wheel holder according to claim 1, wherein thewheel has a rim with a hub and a tire, and the hub and a first portionof the tire is positioned on either side of a line drawn between thefirst and second wheel receiving surfaces.
 16. The wheel holderaccording to claim 15, wherein the first portion of the tire comprises apoint on the tire which intersects a vertical axis extending through thehub of the wheel.
 17. The wheel holder according to claim 1, wherein thefirst and second wheel receiving surfaces each has an apex, andconfigured such that a line drawn between the apex of the first wheelreceiving surface and the apex of the second wheel receiving surface ishorizontal.
 18. A bicycle carrier comprising at least one wheel holderaccording to claim 1, wherein the wheel holder is slideably arranged tothe bicycle carrier.
 19. A bicycle carrier for a vehicle, comprising: anelongate bar; and a wheel holder coupled to the elongate bar andconfigured to receive and retain a bicycle wheel, the wheel holdercomprising: a body having a wheel receiving surface; and a first planealigned with a rotation plane of the bicycle wheel when the bicyclewheel is received on the wheel holder, wherein the wheel receivingsurface comprises at least one raised ridge extending along the firstplane.
 20. The wheel holder according to claim 19, wherein the at leastone raised ridge is an arc shape, a convex shape, or some combinationthereof.
 21. The bicycle carrier according to claim 19, wherein theelongate bar comprises a groove configured to couple to the wheelholder.
 22. The bicycle carrier according to claim 21, wherein the wheelholder is configured to slideably adjust along the groove.